Adverbs and adverb phrases: position
We can put adverbs and
adverb phrases at the front, in the middle or at the end of a clause.
The front position of the
clause is the first item in the clause:
Suddenly I felt afraid.
Yesterday detectives arrested a man and a woman in connection
with the murder.
The end position of the
clause is the last item in the clause:
Why do you always have to
eat so fast?
The mid position is between
the subject and the main verb:
Apples always taste best when you pick them straight off the
tree.
Where there is more than
one verb, mid position means after the first auxiliary verb or after a modal
verb:
The government has occasionallybeen forced to change its mind. (after the first auxiliary verb)
You can definitely never predict what will happen. (after a modal verb)
We mightn’t ever have met. (after the modal verb and before the auxiliary
verb)
In questions, mid position
is between the subject and the main verb:
Do you ever think about living there?
Adverbs usually come after
the main verb be, except in emphatic clauses:
She’s always late for everything.
When be is emphasised, the adverb comes before the verb:
Why should I have gone to
see Madonna? I never was a fan of hers.(emphatic)
See
also:
Types of adverbs and their positions
Different types of adverbs
go in different places.
type
|
position
|
example
|
manner
|
They usually go in end position.
They sometimes go in mid position if the adverb is not the most
important part of the clause or if the object is very long.
|
She ate quickly.
She quicklyate her dinner and
ran out.
|
place
|
They usually go in end position.
They sometimes go in front position, especially in writing.
|
Can you come over here?
We’ll be at that table there.
Here she sat.
Outside, there was a small pond.
|
time
|
They usually go in end position.
They sometimes go in front position especially if we want to emphasise
the adverb.
|
I’m flying to Edinburgh tomorrow.
Today, I’m going to clean the house.
|
duration
|
They usually go in end position.
|
I’m not staying long.
|
frequency
|
They usually go in mid position.
They sometimes go in front position.
They can also go in end position.
Always, ever and never do not usually go
in front position.
|
We often have friends to
stay.
I usually get up late on
weekends.
I could neverswim fast.
Sometimesshe wore a woollen hat.
We don’t see them very often.
Not:
|
degree
|
Really, very, quiteusually go in mid
position.
A lot and a bit usually
go in end position.
|
I really like those pink
flowers.
We go to Ireland a lot.
I’d just like to change
things a bit.
|
focusing
|
They usually go in mid position.
|
He simplywalked out without
saying a word.
|
certainty
or obligation
|
Some go in mid position: probably, possibly, certainly.
Others go in front position: maybe, perhaps or in end
positions after a comma.
|
It’ll probablyrain.
Maybe Nick will know the answer.
Can I get you a drink, or something to eat, perhaps?
|
viewpoint
|
They usually go outside the clause, often at the beginning.
They can sometimes go in mid position, especially in formal writing.
|
Personally, I’d rather not go out.
This must, frankly, be the
craziest idea anyone has ever had.
|
evaluative
|
They usually go outside the clause, often at the beginning.
They can sometimes go in mid position.
In informal speaking they can go in end position.
|
Unfortunately, I forgot my swimming costume so I had to
sit on the side and watch.
We have stupidlyforgotten the
tickets.
They missed the bus, apparently.
|
Manner, place and time
Adverbs of manner, place
and time usually come in end position:
He played brilliantly.
If the verb has an object,
the adverb comes after the object:
We [verb]made [object]a decision [adverb]quickly then left.
When there is more than one
of the three types of adverb together, they usually go in the order: manner,
place, time:
You start off [manner]slowly [time]in the beginning.
Not: You start off in the beginning slowly.
James played [manner] [place]brilliantly in the match on [time]Saturday. (preferred to James
played brilliantly on Saturday in the match.)
Warning:
We don’t put adverbs
between the verb and the object:
She [verb]plays [object]the piano [adverb]really well. I’ve heard her.
Not: She plays really well the piano.
I don’t watch the TV very often.
Evaluative and viewpoint
Adverbs indicating the
attitude and point of view of the speaker or writer usually go at the
beginning. These adverbs are called sentence adverbs because they refer to the
whole sentence or utterance:
Actually, I think the meeting is on Wednesday, not
Thursday.
Obviously, we can’t tell you the result but we can give you
an indication.
Position with here and there
Warning:
If the subject is a pronoun
(it/he/she/you etc.), it comes directly
after the adverbs hereand there. If
the subject is a noun, it comes directly after the verb:
Here she is.
Not: Here is she.
There it goes.
Not: There goes it.
Here comes the bus.
Not: Here the bus comes.